If you are struggling to come up with decent ideas for a friend's stag party or hen party, fear not as help is at hand. Magazines such as Maxim, FHM and GC are usually very helpful when a need arises for laddish inspiration. If all of these fail you, companies like Red Seven Leisure are experts in making sure that a stag night goes with a bang, not a whimper.

Of course, the perfect stag night is different for different people. Common ingredients in the majority of parties, however, are a group of lads, copious amounts of alcohol and maybe a lap dancer thrown in for good measure. Many people nowadays are choosing to go beyond the traditional 'last night of freedom' and are extending stag celebrations over the course of a whole weekend. They are choosing diverse destinations around the UK to do this.

A huge range of options exist for stag parties in London. The UK's capital city has some of the best nightlife in the world and there are an almost limitless number of activities to try during the daytime. You can go to the dogs, literally, before you hit the pub and go to the dogs metaphorically later in the night. Or how about a cruise along the River Thames followed by an evening in one of London's glitzy casinos?

If you would rather conduct activities in one of the northern cities where money goes a lot further, stag parties in Leeds and stag parties in Liverpool are two popular options. The list of activities on offer is impressive in both cities, with popular choices including paintballing, go-karting and clay pigeon shooting. It is the night time where Leeds and Liverpool really come into their own, with a more hedonistic approach to partying than London has. Slightly cheaper drinks also help to lubricate festivities.

As well as having a superior education system, some experts suggest that Scotland is a superior stag night destination. Of course, this is entirely a matter of taste, but Glasgow and Edinburgh offer a famously warm welcome to visitors from around the world. Stag parties in Edinburgh and stag parties in Glasgow become more popular by the year and the cities now cater for pre-marital parties like never before.

When choosing a location for a stag night, you have to bear in mind logistical concerns. Not everyone will be able to take time of work or to travel five hundred miles just for a good party and it's definitely worth asking around for ideas before deciding on anything concrete.